Disclaimer: Criminal Minds and all its characters belong to CBS. I own nothing. Feel free to read and review, but please don't copy.
AN- The story in this one is "I'll Love You Forever" by Robert Munsch. It's a wonderfully sweet story but don't read it without a box of tissue handy. It's extremely hard to get through that story without crying.
Previously on Criminal Minds- Aaron nodded. "I think I will." He answered. He scooted down the bed a little and then laid back. Wrapping an arm around Spencer, he gently and carefully pulled him closer and snuggled him into his side. He was asleep in seconds.
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Penelope hummed a Christmas tune as she walked down the hall with her loaded breakfast tray. Stopping at Hotch's bedroom door, she shifted her care package to one hand before knocking and cheerfully calling out, "Is everybody decent in there?"
"Just a minute" drifted through the wooden door.
"Okie dokie" Garcia hollered back. She turned and focused on the tray studying the arrangement of food and other items to ensure everything was in place while she waited for the all clear. Nodding her satisfaction with the presentation, she continued to hum Jingle Bells and move to the improvised music.
After a couple of verses of the song, the door finally opened and Hotch's smiling face appeared. "Good morning, Garcia" he greeted, ushering her inside.
"Good morning, Boss Man" Penelope replied as she followed the father over to the bed where her Junior G-man was sitting propped up against some pillows. "How's my Baby Bumble this morning?"
Spencer cocked his head to one side. "Bumble bee? Weally?" he questioned. "I know you lite to tall us seasonal pet names fis time of yeaw but I don't undew'tand what a bumble bee has to do wif the holidays."
"Not bumble bee Sweetie, bumble" Garcia corrected. "You know like the bumble in Rudolph." Seeing the blank look on the boy's face, she frowned. "Oh, I forgot I'm talking with an unenlightened one. You and I definitely need to have another movie day when you're feeling better Sweet Pea."
Spencer perked up a bit. "Tan we do it today?" he excitedly asked. "Peas?"
"I don't think that's a good idea, Spencer." Aaron told the little boy. "You're still running a fever."
"It's bawely a hundwed." Reid countered. "Besides, it's not lite I'll be wunning awound ow anyfing. I'll jut be twietly(quietly) sitting on the touch watching TV. I won't get wowdy. Pwomise."
Aaron raised an eyebrow at the youngster.
"Peas, daddy" Reid pleaded, adding his best hang dog expression for good measure.
Hotch sighed. "Alright, I'll allow you to have your movie day." He conceded, smiling at the whoop of joy that followed. "But if your fever goes back up or you start feeling bad, you're coming right back up here and getting into bed. No arguments. Understand?"
"Yes siw" Spencer agreed, crossing his fingers under the covers.
"Movie day it is then!" Garcia happily declared. "It'll take me a little while to get things ready so you two have plenty of time to eat this." She set the tray full of food on the bed in front of the tiny genius.
Spencer licked his lips as he stared at his giant Mickey Mouse waffle. It looked wonderful except…"Gawcia, what awe fose blat(black) pots all ovew my waffle?"
"Those are chocolate chips, my Fevered Frosty." Penelope replied, pinching the boy's cheek. "Mrs. Morgan thought you might like to have chocolate chip waffles this morning instead of your usual."
"Tool!" Reid exclaimed. He stabbed one of the precut pieces and popped it in his mouth. "Mmmmm, fis is good!"
"I'll give your compliments to the chef." Garcia said as she started for the door. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a movie day to prepare."
"Fants, Gawcia!" Spencer hollered.
"You're welcome, Sweetness!" Penelope called over her shoulder. "I'll come get you guys when everything's ready."
"Okay, we'll be ready." Aaron answered. Glancing at his son, he was pleased to see the young boy gobbling up his breakfast. Deciding that Spencer was indeed on the mend, the father quickly tucked into his own meal.
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"Fat was *yawn* was fun *yawn* ny." Spencer sleepily stated, knuckling his eyes. "Tan we watch an *YAWN* anofew one?"
"Fosty! Fosty! Fosty!" Henry chanted as he marched around the couch.
JJ glanced from the littlest profiler whose eyes were drooping to her son. "I think we should wait a little while to watch the next one." She suggested.
"No wait! Watch Fosty! Peas?" Henry begged. Seeing his mother frown, he toddled over to Will. Hugging his daddy's legs, Henry peered up at him and asked, "Daddy let Henwy watch Fosty? Peas?"
Hotch snorted. "It's nice to know Jack's not the only one that plays the mom vs. dad game." He said with a chuckle.
Fran laughed. "That's one of the first games they learn once they can talk." She told the group. "My Derek was a master at playing it when he was their age."
"MOM!" Morgan hollered, blushing as the rest of the family burst into laughter.
"What honey?" Mrs. Morgan innocently asked.
Derek sighed. Wanting to get out of the spotlight, he quickly turned to Henry. "Come on Henry. Let's put Frosty in." he offered.
JJ glared at her friend. "That's not…"
"Aunt JJ" Spencer called. He waited for her to look at him before saying, "We watch *YAWN* Fwosty? Peas?"
JJ rolled her eyes, knowing she was being played. She wanted to call Reid on it, too but she just couldn't look into that sweet little face and say no. "Fine, we'll watch Frosty." She replied.
"Wait! Wait! Wait!" Garcia exclaimed as she jumped off the couch and hurried to the stairs. "There's something we need to do first! Be right back!"
Fran stared after the hyper woman. "What is she going…"
"Fran, it's best not to ask any questions when dealing with Garcia and her surprises." Dave informed Morgan's mom. "Trust me."
"Okay" Mrs. Morgan hesitantly agreed, raising an eyebrow as the festively dressed tech analyst rushed back into the room with two colorfully wrapped bundles.
"Alright, my snuggle bunnies" Penelope began once she'd reached the couch. "Now I know that we usually don't open presents until at least Christmas Eve but I just can't wait that long. Plus, I think these are needed. So, here you go my lovelies!" She handed each boy a beautifully wrapped gift.
"Fant you Auntie Pen!" Spencer and Henry shouted. They glanced at their parents for the okay before tearing into their presents. Tossing wrapping paper left and right, the boys screamed with delight when they finally pulled out their first present of the season.
Henry's shout of "Dolph!" came at the same time as Reid's holler of "It's Bumble!"
"Whatcha got there, Short Stuff?" Morgan asked his best friend.
Beaming, Reid held up his prize. "I got a *yawn* a tuffed Bumble!"
"Is that one of those pillow pets?" Emily questioned.
"That it is Em." Penelope answered. "I saw them when I was shopping the other day and I just couldn't resist them."
"A pillow pet?" Spencer repeated, turning his treasure over in his hands.
"Yes" Aaron replied. He took the stuffed toy from his son and carefully pulled the tab. "See, when you release this, it unfolds into a pillow."
"T *YAWN* tool!" Reid softly said. Taking his new Bumble pillow, he set it in his daddy's lap and laid his head down on it. After popping his paci in his mouth, Spencer closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.
Rossi's brow furrowed at the boy's actions. He walked over and sat on the arm of the sofa. "Is his fever going up again?" he asked.
Aaron placed the back of his hand on his son's forehead and smiled in relief. "No" he softly replied. "I think he's just tired."
"He does usually sleep a lot after that vaccine." JJ added. She smiled down at the slumbering tot before turning her attention to her son. "Come on Henry, let's go upstairs to watch Frosty so Reid can sleep."
"Otay mommy" Henry responded. He took his mother's hand and the two walked out of the room.
"I think I'm gonna go with them." Garcia whispered before following the mother and son out.
Fran grabbed the camouflage blanket off the back of the recliner and carefully tucked it around the sleeping profiler. She then leaned down and kissed Spencer's forehead. "Sleep tight Sweet Pea" she quietly murmured. Noticing the boy fidgeting every time someone spoke or a noise sounded, she frowned. Fran knew the youngster wouldn't get the peaceful sleep he needed with all the people milling about; even if they were trying to be quiet. Resolving to fix things so the little one could get the rest he needed, she stood back up and glared at the family members in the room. "Alright, everybody out!" She ordered, placing her hands on her hips. "This baby needs rest and he's not going to get that with all of you moving around. Now scat!"
"Yes ma'am" Derek and Emily immediately responded.
"Yes um" Will answered at the same time. The three friends quickly and quietly headed up the stairs.
Ignoring the look of doom being shot his way, Dave stayed where he was. He slowly opened the drawer of the night stand beside the couch and pulled out a set of walkie-talkies. Handing one to Hotch, Rossi said, "I'm gonna go up and start lunch. If you or Reid need anything, let me know. Alright?"
"I will." Aaron promised.
Nodding, Dave patted the younger man's shoulder and then stood and left the room.
"I'm going to go up, too." Fran informed Aaron. "I'll be back to check on you two though."
"Thank you Mrs. Morgan" Hotch whispered.
Fran gave Aaron her patented 'you wanna try that again?' expression.
That look had Hotch squirming. "I mean Fran." He corrected.
"That's better." Fran said with a nod. "I'm going up now. You take good care of that sweet baby. You hear me?"
"Yes ma'am" Aaron politely answered. As he watched Morgan's mom saunter out of the room, he thought about the pranks he and Derek were planning for Will. From what he'd seen Fran wouldn't be any too pleased with them for pulling those if she found out they were behind the pranks. And she would find out. His own mother used to say 'a mother always knows' and she had been right. Aaron's mom had known every little stunt he'd pulled when he was little and she'd made sure he'd paid the price for each one. He had no doubts that Mrs. Morgan was the same. And while he was an adult, he had no desire to end up on the wrong side of Derek's mom. He had a feeling the consequences would not be pleasant. With that thought in mind Aaron decided to have a talk with Morgan as soon as possible and let him know to hold off on the pranks until Fran was on a plane headed home. They would get their revenge after she was safely back in Chicago. Pleased with his decision, Hotch turned to the job at hand. He glanced down at his little boy. Seeing Reid sleeping peacefully, he smiled. "Sleep well buddy" he whispered, palming the child's cheek. Settling back against the couch, Aaron made himself comfortable for the long afternoon to come.
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Spencer slowly awoke with a yawn. Stretching, he rolled over, popped the paci out of his mouth, and smiled up at his surrogate daddy. "Mowning Hotch" he greeted, rubbing his eyes.
"Hey there Sleepy Head" Aaron replied. "About time you woke up. I was beginning to think you were going to sleep the whole day away."
Spencer pushed himself up to sit beside his father. Cocking his head to one side, he stared curiously up at the man. "Weally? How long did I leep?" he questioned.
"You slept from mid-morning, through the afternoon, and into the evening." Aaron replied, chuckling at the shocked expression on the little boy's face.
Stunned, Reid reached over and grabbed Hotch's wrist. Turning the man's arm over, the tiny agent looked at his friend's wristwatch. "It's, it's six o'tlot!" he gasped.
Seeing his son starting to get worked up, Aaron quickly stepped in. "Relax Spencer you were worn out from the fever. You needed that rest." He told the little guy.
"But, but" Spencer broke off as a loud growl sounded.
Hotch smiled. "Sounds like somebody's hungry" he said.
"Uh huh" Spencer answered, nodding his head.
"Do you want Fran to warm up some soup for you?" Aaron asked as he picked up the walkie-talkie Dave had given him earlier.
"Tan, tan I have chiten intead?" Reid inquired.
Aaron raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you feel up to eating something that heavy?"
"Yes siw" Spencer responded, patting his stomach.
"Okay then let's check and see what's on the menu tonight." Aaron said, eliciting a giggle from the tiny profiler snuggled into his side. Pressing the button on the walkie-talkie, the father called into the mic, "Dave, are we having any chicken for supper? Reid's up and he's hungry."
"Tell the kid he's in luck." Rossi's voice crackled from the speaker. "Fran's making fried chicken."
Spencer smacked his lips. He pulled the walkie-talkie closer to him and asked, "Is fewe any mowe pie?"
Rossi rolled his eyes. "There's plenty of pie, Kiddo." He replied. "And I've made another batch of cheesy lasagna just for you."
"Yes!" Spencer squealed into the mic. "Fant you! Fant you!"
"Yeah, yeah" Dave muttered with a smile. "How about thanking me by washing your hands and getting you behind up here so we can eat? You're not the only one hungry, you know."
"Toming!" Spencer eagerly shouted. He shoved the walkie-talkie back into Hotch's hands and leapt off the sofa. "Tome on Hotch! Huwwy!" he urged.
"I'm coming. I'm coming." Aaron replied. After telling Rossi they would be up in a few minutes, he set the walkie-talkie down, walked over to the excited boy, and took his hand. "Alright buddy, let's go eat."
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Once supper was devoured and cleaned up, the family went back downstairs to have a little fun before bedtime. Not wanting the littlest profiler to overexert himself, they decided to play with the big bag of blocks they'd brought for the boys. Will dumped the blocks and a bunch of plastic animals out before sitting down beside his son. The men and boys then began constructing a zoo while the ladies sat and chatted about a certain agent's childhood as well as some of his less than stellar moments as a profiler. By the time bedtime rolled around the animals had the most intricate zoo ever designed and the women of the BAU had enough blackmail material on Morgan to last a lifetime.
CM
Fran sighed as she watched JJ and Aaron escort the little boys out of the room. Bedtime had always been one of her favorite times with her children. She loved reading them stories and singing to them until they drifted off to sleep. She'd thought she'd be putting her grandbabies to bed by now but it didn't seem like that was ever going to happen; not at the rate her children were going. Why she'd be lucky to…Fran frowned as Spencer toddled back into the game room carrying a large hardback book. "Reid honey, what are you doing back in here? Did you forget something?" she questioned.
Spencer shook his head. He shuffled over to the couch and after setting his book down, climbed up. He then scooted over to Fran and held up his book. "Nana, wead towy(story)? Peas?" Spencer sweetly asked.
"Nana will happily read to you, Sweet Pea." Fran replied. Wrapping an arm around the little boy, she snuggled him into her side, opened the book, and began: "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be."